WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – Nine people were taken to a hospital after a wrong-way crash sparked a semi-truck fire in Wayne County on Wednesday.
The crash happened on Ford Road at Haggerty Road, near I-275, on March 18, just before 1 p.m.
According to Canton Township Interim Police Chief Joseph Bialy, a car was speeding southbound in the northbound lanes while a semi-truck was turning at the intersection, leading to the crash.
The crash caused fuel to spill from the semi-truck, which ignited and trapped everyone in their vehicles, Bialy said.
Four of the officers who responded to the scene pulled the passengers out to safety, but got injured in the process.
Five passengers, as well as the four officers, were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials said everyone is expected to be okay.
Three of the officers were treated for smoke inhalation, and one officer sustained burn injuries.
Bialy praised the Canton police officers who quickly entered the blaze to rescue people and credited regional partners for helping contain the scene.
“Our women and men of the Canton Police Department absolutely acted with bravery and courage to make sure that they rendered aid to the citizens that were involved in this, and making sure that everybody was as safe as they could be,” Bialy said.
Ford Road at Haggerty Road was closed to traffic for hours because of the fuel spill. Bialy said there is no danger to the public, and the spill was contained.
Bialy also mentioned it took crews some time to put out the flames.
“If you notice, the flames were so high that they melted the traffic control signals,” he said. “They fought courageously to get these flames down.”
Witness describes crash
Andre Jasmund, a service technician at a local Midas shop near the crash site, said he first realized something was wrong when he heard a loud blast from outside the building.
“I heard a loud noise, a loud pop — like a collision or a tire explosion,” he said.
Jasmund said he stepped outside and immediately saw smoke rising above nearby buildings in Canton Township.
“I came outside and saw black smoke above the building,” he said. “When I went to the corner, I could see a vehicle totally engulfed in flames.”
From his view, Jasmund said visibility was limited, but the fire’s intensity was clear.
He later left for lunch and returned to find the crash scene still active, with emergency crews working in the area.
“When I came back, I could see they hadn’t gotten it cleaned up yet,” Jasmund said. “It looked like a car had impacted the truck, like it hit it right in the fuel tank.”
Jasmund said he was told at the scene that those involved were conscious.
“It looks like a bad accident,” he said. “But I think one of the firemen told me everyone was talking at the scene.”
Jasmund said the incident was startling but unfolded quickly.